Skirt



A. M. SMITH.

SKIRT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1920. I 1,419,990. Patented June 20, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET j 7 ATTORNEY A. M. SMITH.

Y SKIRT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 26,1920.

Mm m mm m5 r JM w /w m M Q AGNES M. SMITH, OF ROCHESTER, NEVT YQRK.

SKIRT.

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Specification of Letterslatent.

Patented June so, 1922.

Application filed November 20, 1920. Serial No. 425,331.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AeNns M. SMITH, of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skirts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and to the reference numerals marked thereon.

My invention relates to womens skirts or petticoats which are particularly adapted for use as undergarments worn beneath the dress, and has for its object to provide a garment which will hang smoothly, particularly at the front, whether the wearer is standing or sitting, and at the same time is sutliciently expansible to permit the requisite freedom of the wearers limbs in walking. To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a front view of the skirt.

Figure 2 shows a rear view.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 3-S of Figure 2.

Figure 4 shows a section on the line l -43 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side view of the skirt laid fiat rather than hanging as worn.

Figure 6 represents a view similar to Figure 5, but from the opposite side.

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7'-7= of Figure 5.

Figure 8 shows a section on the line 89-8 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, numeral 1 indicates the relatively plain or straight portion of my skirt provided at the top with the waist band 2 and placket 12. It should be understood that the words plain or straight do not mean that this portion of the skirt is necessarily devoid of decorative features common to garments of this class, but rather that it shall hang substantially straight from the waist band. The rear part of the skirt indicated generally by f has its central portion box plaited as at 8, the folds being inside so as to form a relatively smooth exterior surface when hanging free, and yet allow sufficient fullness so that when the wearer is seated there will be no undue strain on the fabric. At the lower portion of the plaited portion and about the height of the wearers knees, the material is shirred and the ends of the shirred portion secured to the ends of an elastic strip of webbing 5 extending horizontally about half way around the garment so that the front portion may hang substantially vertically while the rear portion although normally hanging substantially straight is capable of expansion against the tension of the strip 5 of elastic webbing. This elastic strip 5 is preferably placed on the inner or under side of the strip in a pocket 7 formed by a shirred covering strip 6.

In order that the lower portion of the skirt may also expand slightly it is provided at the sides with inverted V shaped slits 8 extending upwardly to about the level of the elastic strip and if desired these may be covered on the under side with plaited and expansible pieces 9 whose sides 13 as well as the top 14 may be stitched or otherwise secured to the garment and thus form box plaits. A similar slit 10 is preferably arranged at the front and back of the skirt, in order to give freedom of movement covered if desired with the material 9. The edges of these slits and the bottom of the skirt as well may be provided with any suitable fringe or trimming.

Among the advantages of my improved skirt may be mentioned the fact that the front is adapted to hang substantially straight and give a pleasing appearance althouga permitting the necessary movements in walking and even when the wearer is seated the necessary fullness afforded by the gathered or shirred portion being then unnoticeable. "When used as a petticoat in combination with an overskirt of relatively thin material the latter is enabled to hang or be better draped over the substantially plain or straight portion of the skirt.

I claim as my invention:

1. A skirt comprising a substantially straight portion extending vertically from top to bottom and a portion having pleats extending from the top downwardly toward the lower part of the skirt and there shirred, an elastic webbing secured at its ends only at the opposite sides of said shirred portion.

2. A. skirt comprising a substantially straight front portion extending vertically from top to bottom, the rear portion having lower edge of theskirt to about the level or" the shirred portion.

at. A skirt comprising a substantially straight front portion extending vertically from top to bottom, a rear portion havirn vertically extending pleats and shirred at the lower ends of the pleats, an elastic webbing secured at its ends only for contracting the shirred portion, the lower parts of said front and rear portion extending below said webbing and being provided with upwardly tapering slits.

AGNES M. SMITH. 

